Sled



'atented ug. 27, 1935 jfThis invention relates to sleds and' morepartu-larlyto'sleds having'runne'rs' especially -adapted forfacilitatingsteering. lHeretoforevvarious arrangements of runners VhaveVleen;employed for Afa'eilitating the'steering of slerls, PIjObably thebest known of which is that in; which therunnezje Vare arranged to bersimultaneouslyr flexedv laterally at their forwardends. AWhile thisarrangement has jingeneiqal Served toV steer the sled' satisfacetoi'il'mjitfhas been foundthat When'sharp'turns 4 aiemade'there is atendency for the "sled to' overf my. United stares Patent 1,9%;9314granted A151511' 1:8, 1,933-, therey is-fshownydescribedf nd tionifthevrippended, claims; andthe-faccomv any;

ngclrlavvinginwhich;,v .A 1,; 4. Figure' l" is .a perspectiveavievr of asledemr 'bodying v'theinventioiuy l ,Y ,t L 'Fig'nr'e -2 is a bottomplanviwfof the sled shown a; ysle'd'provided' vertically- Cjllap'sigArunners' 'each of Whieh is' nofinallyjurg'ecll sled; posi'ses's'esjtheadvantage of g'ieat'sijxn "nd is' readily- Steei'able undef vordinaryen-'y een@ @www@www the iin-neither object is' to provide* `sifi; the Qla. tp,

'1s connect helpwotbelt Y lapsing movementfof thelrunnr`B"relativeto Yspectively receiving pins 24-24' on the runners 2 and 2', the pins andslotsconstituting lost'mof tion connections between the steering yokeand runners. A steering bar 25 is pivotally mounted on the yoke by meansof a bolt 26 which passes through the central part 20 of the yoke andthrough astrap 21 secured to the partV 2U and extending' overthe-steering bar. VLost motion connections 28-28f are connected betweenthe sledframegandv thel steering bar at points on opposite-sides ofvvthe pivot Fbolt 26;; I'nthe form shownfthes" connections compriserspectively hollow links 29-29' pivoted as att 30 to the slat 6 infrontofthe bolt 2| and thrust rodsV 3l-3I telescopically mounted in thehol-1V low links and having their forward endspivoted. as at 32-32 tothe steering bar v25 onV oppositeYV sides of the bolt 26. .7. When it is.desired to steer the sled, say, to

the users right, the steering bar willbe rocked iria' clockwisedirection asyiewed from the top. This will cause the thrust rodf3;|-topush against the; bottom '.of. :the opening in the l1ollow l inkf 29.andA will swingjzthe :yoke about the, bolt 2l in a .clockwise directionas viewed in FieUre-.l .(111 a .counterslockwise;fdirectionjas viewed inFigure .2).,I.as indicatedrinvdotted lines in' Figures 1 and i,

...2.,y .Thus thefront-: of .thel yoke is swung to the users richt,vthereby, flexing both runners la- 'erally towardV the .lightsy .DuringthiS,..SWinging moyeme slot .2.3il addition removing towardtheusers'righnfalsowill move relatively rearwardly so as to pushagainstrthe pin24. on the runner' B and .'thcrebygmgva the.- runner-rearward1v with;rel spectgto the'V sled iramefand consequently `upwardly relativethereto. .llexing of the .rgnneigsis-accompaniedby a simultaneously col-Ytliefsld fransen@ aliilliinsrbflfhe fram t0- -ward'th'e fright. so asto producelaV Vbanked lefect, min' zingr-V the danger of skidding' o'r'turning Whenthe steering .bari is operated inthe ,described abovetollguide'the'sld to`- di sint, 233,4 *so thatfth runner B' u i rtake'lo,anyfcollapsing.movement. Qbf usiyjfn str niesied' the usersleftltneisteriiigr'ba- 2,5; i'sj rocked iiijaycounterciockyyis'e directionasviewed in Figurejl; .causing vboth runners to "h be :.S flexed.laterally; `and sir'nultaneously ecausingzdfonly the,v runner fBI .to bemoved gelati i ring simultaneously fwith'ste'ering so ast're'ndr itppssibietq. Iifryiake relatively sharp ruimsj with a minirnum danger 'oi'f ski'dding or turning over. yariousvmodications may b e made in thedetails of co i'I S'tvrslictior.1Iwfi'th`1`1t riepartingy froni the' 'inYton asdened. .inthe claimsl .l Pff. 5 Y

lgn a sl, ed,`thek combination V.0f affrarnertwo laterally -nexiblefunners';l means connecting Iboth Arunners`to-the Vfratrieindependentlyof each other". fr movements having components bothperpeiioiemarto' the frame iandj longitudinal vwith 4res'r'ie't.'ttlfieaiiis of the frame @and lsteer- ,means'connected vto the frame and]runners riforfs'imultaneously 'the' runners laterally Eand eiTectingsuchcm nentniovemnt isaid runnx ersI l2 @Lilie-Rein of theyoke,theforward` end -oiV the laterally flexible runners; verticalstruts pivotally connecting said runners to the frame forV movementsindependently of each other; and steering means connected to said frameand runners for simultaneously flexing said runners and eiecting pivotalmovements of the struts connected to one runner with respect to theframe.

3. In a sled, the combination of a frame; two laterally ilexiblerunners; vertical struts pivotally connecting said-l runners to theframe for movements independently of'each other; and steering meansvincluding a lost motion connection connected to said frame and runnersfor simultaneously exing said runners and effecting pivotal movements ofthe struts connected to one runner withrespect to the frame. 4; Ina'sled,`the combination of a frame; two

' Llaterally exible runners; vertical struts pivotally connecting saidrunners to the frame for movements independently of* eachother; meansfor ,urging saidstruts to vertical position; rstop means for limitingmovement of said struts to normally maintain. the struts in verticalposition; and steering means connected to said frame landrunnersrforsimultaneously ilexing said runners and effecting.. pivotalmovements of the struts con-V nected to'one runner with vrespect to theframe.

. y5. In a sledg'the combination'ofLa frame;` two"V laterally Vexiblerunners;` meansconnecting both f runners to the frame independently ofeacli other V other for movements havingjcomponents both Aperpendicularto and parallel" with the frame;

vafsteering yoke; a pin and;.slot"connectionl'beftween said .yoke andeach ofsaid runners; a 'pivotal' connection between saidyoke and saidframe; and means connected to said'frame and yoke for swinging the yokeabout its pivot` on the frame;V '7.` In a sled,vthe combination of aframe; two laterally ilexible runners; means connecting both runners rtothe. frame independently of each "other4 for movements having componentsboth perpendicular to the frame and longitudinal with respect tothe'axis ofv the frame; v a Steering yOke connected to yeach ofsaidrunners` a' pivotal connectionbetween said yoke and rvsaid frame; aVsteering bar `pivot'ally connected 'to said' yoke; and connectionsextending 'respectively 'from spaced'p'oints on 'the steering bar onopposite sides ofthe connectionof the latterjto the yoke jto a'pointiofcommon connection'with the frame.

8: Ina sled, the combination ora-frame; two

llaterally' flexible runners; means connecting both Vthe .yoke to. theframesalld.. .th..steins.l9r 011 'opposita sides of its point. ofconnection` to the kroke.

yoke; and telescopic thrust links respectively exe tending from a commonpoint on said frame spaced from the frame-yoke connection to saidsteering bar on opposite Sides of its connection to the yoke.

10. In a sled, the combination of a frame; two runners; means connectingboth runners to the frame independently of each other for movementshaving components both perpendicularA to and parallel with the frame; asteering yoke connected to eachD of said runners; a pivotal connectionbetween saidyoke and said frame; a steering bar pivotally connected tosaid yoke; and telescopic thrust links respectively extending vfrom acommon point on said framespaced from theframe yoke connection to saidsteering bar A on opposite sides of its connection to the yoke.

1l. In a sled, the combination of a frame; two runners; means connectingboth runners to the frame independently of each other for movementshaving components both perpendicular to and parallel with the frame; anda steering device.

connected to said runners for positively effecting such movements ofonly one of the runners at one time. Y

12. In a sled, the combination of a frame two runners, vertical'strutspivotally connecting said runners to the frame for movementsindependently of each other; a steering device forV effecting pivotalmovements'of said struts with respect to the frame; and a lost motionconnection between each of said runners and said steering device. 13. Ina sled, the combination of a frame; two.

runners; yieldable connecting means between each runner and the frame,the connecting means for each runner including a substantiallyverticalstrut pivoted at its opposite ends to the frame and to the runnerrespectively, resilient means constantly urging said strut inonedirection about its pivoton the frame, and a stop forV limitingmovement of said strut in said direction; and a steering deviceconnectedto each runner.

14. In a sled, the combination of a. frame; two laterally flexiblerunners; means connecting said runners to the frame for bodily movementthroughout their entire extents including al1 ground engaging surfacesrelative to the frame; and steering means connected to the runnersV forflexing them laterally and simultaneously bodily moving one entirerunner throughout its entire extent including al1 ground engagingsurfaces.

vertically upwards relative to the frame.

CHARLES Z. MILLER.

